((( squating )))

bbforlife · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2002, 09:23 AM

i cant squat large amounts, but i can leg press a house. what gives? my boys are coming home for college spring break, i want to crush them, but my squat doesnt move. is there a stance that helps or what......

SizeMatters · #2 (**permalink**) 03-21-2002, 02:07 PM

Well, Bro..... to be honest if you focus on leg press more, then your squat will never be great... you have to squat and squat to get the poundages up. There is no other way. You use more muscles and different muscles in those two exercises... it's like stabalizer muscles, you know?.... like being strong on barbell bench and trying dumbbells for the first time.... it's a joke.

So, you got to dig in and squat... DEEP and HEAVY!! It will come around.

Abombs · #3 (**permalink**) 03-21-2002, 02:23 PM

I never had a large squat, but I found something that worked. My legs could handle the weight, but the rest of my body couldn't. I started doing stiff-legged deadlifts with my feet about shoulder width. All the way up with heavy weight, like 315lbs. Once my back strength got up, I was able to handle a much higher squat. I upped it by about 50-60lbs in a little over a month. Worth a try. Good luck.

NAPALM1 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-21-2002, 04:34 PM

I am in the same boat bro. I have 2 herniated discs in my lower back, and had neck surgery 2 1/2 years ago, so squatting heavy is out of the question. I squat no more than 230# for fear of being injured, and not being able to train at all! Although I could squat more, I am not taking the chance. I can leg press an amazing amount of weight because thats all I can really do. So after a couple years of leg presses being my main leg exercise, I have gotten extremely strong sitting in that position. When you are squatting, your glutes and lower back come into play, and that is where the weakness comes from. If you want to squat heavy, you have to do heavy squats while training, and continue increasing the weights as you go along. Later

excape · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-2002, 11:23 PM

I was the same never could squat but I tried this new squat stance well it's not new it's the one the West Side Barbell crew uses, it's feet spread apart about 2 feet apart from ankles, toes facing outward and when you go down stick your ass out first like if you were sitting down on a chair, as you go down your knees do not go over toes they the bar, knees and ankle is in a straight vertical line, but make sure you incorporate your hamstrings as you go down, start with light weight first until you get used to it, trust me it works, I went from a 225 squat to a 405 squat for 10 in about 6 months. This doing squats every week and have not stopped since.

Only the big and strong will survive.

gunny · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2002, 11:30 PM

good info on the squat form bro.......my hamstrings are patheticly weak compared to my thigh strength......I'm small compared to most of you i'm sure .......i'm 5'9" 190lbs and squat only about 415 for 10-15 but I think when my hamstring strentgth improves I'll get better control and more weight......by the way......does anyone know how to hit the inside top portion of the thigh.....any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.....later

excape · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-2002, 11:52 PM

gunny when you sqat or leg press keep your legs close together and right under you and leg press don't put then high on the flat board put then low on the board keep your ankles touching and your toes outward.

bbforlife · #8 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002, 07:09 AM

thank you guys for the tips.-/

NAPALM1 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002, 08:28 PM

Gunny, you can hit the inner part of your upper thigh by using the inner thigh machine. But be prepared to not be able to walk the first few times you use it!! You can also do hack squats with you heals together and your toes pointed out in kind of a duck stance. Later

1bigAlien · #10 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002, 08:30 PM

those "girls" machines arent for girly men. thos things work very well. i still remember not walking right for a week.............

gunny · #11 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002, 06:29 PM

Thanks bro's.....i'll try that....later

BlackSuperman · #12 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002, 07:33 PM

Sorry bro's I am sure that machine works but I aint gettin on it!!!!

Bigggman

Bigbadasian · #13 (**permalink**) 03-24-2002, 03:44 AM

|---[\\\\]>-------- Hmmm...that's weird, i don't have the problem, i can squat/front squat a shit load and i can leg press a lot too....:-)

http://www.sextoon.com/tour/01_tour07.gif

el cubano · #14 (**permalink**) 03-24-2002, 03:49 AM

Hey, there you go, just tell your boys that you have a herniated disk in your back and you can't squat!LOL.

Man, I love squats!!! Nothing like a good old squat. I feel like I'm cheating when I do leg press cuz it's so easy to throw up a ton of weight.

Passedyouup · #15 (**permalink**) 03-24-2002, 05:51 AM

Are you tall? If you are, then you are going to have more problems squatting. I am 6' and can squat the world ( only b/c I have genetically big legs to start with) but many guys I lift with can't...esp. the guys 6'2'' and taller. But as people have stated, legs just a little past shoulder width apart, toes slightly outward, head facing the ceiling, slow going down and then explode up. That is the way to squat! Also, if your heels aren't on the ground you will have problems with weight also. Don't be afraid of the weight, that is the first step to failure!

PS. I have a friend who has only 3 of his quads working on both sides, and b/c of this method he is doing 315lbs for reps! So, I know you can.